17-24 November 2007 is set to be an extraordinary week – a unique opportunity to see, hear, feel and smell Africa as never before with the Bushcamp Company's Animals in Action week.  Personalities speaking and leading outings during the week include wildlife photographers, TV presenters and authors Jonathan & Angela Scott, Kenya; wildlife artist Jonathan Truss, UK; local legend and world authority on giraffe Phil Berry, Zambia; ornithologist and animal behavior specialist Derek Solomon, Zambia; and safari guide and specialist on traditional and medicinal uses of local plants Manda Chisanga, Zambia.  The week includes game drives and lectures with time to interact with the guest speakers at bush breakfasts, lunches and sundowners on the banks of the river.

These are of course busy months as we start to gear up for the season ahead, we are re-establishing roads to each of our bushcamps this week and the annual re-building process is well underway. By June 1st, each of our camps will have a totally fresh look.


Steve Ladd and Kiri Maloney have joined us from their previous post in the Lower Zambezi. As general managers, their roles are likely to be all-encompassing but they do expect to spend much of their time, up front, taking personal care of our guests.

Many people want to go deeper into the bush, experience a remote and wild area. We uniquely offer bush camping, comfortable but simple, rather than a structural camp. Debs Tittle, recently mentioned as a top African guide in Vanity Fair, runs the Luangwa Bush Camping unit in the Nsefu Sector – for those staying at Nsefu and Tena Tena. New this year,

Robin is developing bush camping at the Mushilashi Palmgrove. If you want to walk with Robin in the wild, book now for the last few spaces. Dates for Bush Camping and Walking Mobile Safaris for both 2007 and 2008 are on the website.  http://www.robinpopesafaris.net/info/avail.php

Naturally a quiet time in the bush, the months of April and May still have so much to offer to any visiting wildlife enthusiast. Last week, 2 mornings in a row, we had leopard sightings in front of the House followed by 2 wild dog sightings on the Chongwe Top Plain.  We are currently busy opening the road to Chongwe Falls. This secluded spot is preeminent at this time of year. With the Falls in flow and many migratory birds still around and in breeding plumage it provides an ideal escape to nature.  For the keen fishermen there is a varied number of species to target, both on fly and with bait. Bream fishing is at its peak during these early season months and Tiger fishing gets better every day as the water clears after the rains. Contact Geno on info@robinpopesafaris.net for further information.

This month we welcomed the arrival of 2 containers sent from the U-Foundation in the UK, that does various work and projects throughout Zambia.  The containers were filled with a variety of items that are needed by the local rural villages and school within close proximity to the Islands of Siankaba Lodge. Donated items included books, sewing machines, clothes, and much more!!!!  Under supervision from the lodge staff the items were distributed amongst the various villages and as you can imagine were very well received.  Together with the lodge, the U-Foundation are hoping to build a community nursery school and are raising funds in the form of a bike ride from London to Paris on the 29th May 2007. Any donations or keen volunteers are more than welcome and can contact either
Tanya:islands@zamnet.zm or
Sarah:sarah@theufoundation.org

We have the pleasure of welcoming back Craig Higgins who started his African cheffing career at Tongabezi and after 5 years with us moved to the Okavango Delta for 7 years working and training staff at Mombo. “It's time for a change and I am ready for a new and exciting challenge, there are new avenues to explore and I have the great privilege to return to the camp which holds very special memories where I will be spending time with Zuwi and Kenneth in the kitchen of Tongabezi”
We will begin to introduce new and delicious recipes which have now been tried and tested over the last few years and look to working with local ingredients which will highlight the dishes. The mango cake, the green chili chicken and the sweet potato laksa will all be part of this fun menu.  We will also start a new training schedule and workshop where we can spend time with the staff and together develop new systems which will allow us to grow as a new team. We look forward to seeing you all joining us for dinner soon,Happy Cooking Craig!